SANTA FE – Native fish restoration efforts on Whitewater Creek are scheduled for Sept. 25 – Oct. 3, 2019.
As part of the Whitewater Creek Native Fish Restoration Project, the Department will remove non-native trout from Whitewater Creek to allow restoration of Gila trout and other native fish to their native range. This portion of the project starts at the intersection of the Gold Dust Trail (FS Trail #41) with Whitewater Creek and continues upstream to the headwaters. The closure does not affect the Catwalk National Recreation Area.
The Department will apply rotenone based products – CFT Legumine®, 5% rotenone and Prentox® Rotenone Fish Toxicant Powder™ – to the stream to remove non-native salmonids. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that rotenone is highly effective for removal of fish and that the resulting concentrations of ingredients do not pose unreasonable risk to human health or the environment. The pesticide will be neutralized with potassium permanganate and treated water will not leave the project area.
The Gila National Forest Supervisor Adam Mendonca will issue a temporary closure for Sept. 25 – Oct. 3, 2019. Signs will be posted at all trailheads that access closed areas. Visit the U.S. Forest Service website for more information on the Gila National Forest. Visit the Department website for more information on the native Gila trout.
When completed this project will contribute 23 miles of stream for Gila trout recovery and recreational angling purposes.Let's block ads!(Why?)

SEAFORD – DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife has confirmed a new state record in the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament: a 43-inch, 47.75-pound blue catfish caught Aug. 31 on the Nanticoke River by Colt Williamson of Harrington. Williamson caught the record catfish while fishing with his father, Rexx Williamson, battling the fish for 25 minutes.
The record catch was initially weighed by Taylored Tackle Shop in Seaford and later verified by Johnny Moore, a fisheries biologist with the Division of Fish & Wildlife. This new state record catfish is more than 11 pounds larger than the previous state record, a 36.32-pound blue catfish caught from the Nanticoke River in 2017 by Jordan Chelton, also of Harrington, and whose catch also was weighed by Taylored Tackle Shop in Seaford.
A list of all Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament state records is available at the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Records page.
More information on the Delaware Sport Fishing Tournament and state record fish can be found in the 2019 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide is also available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and from license agents throughout the state.Let's block ads!(Why?)

Public facilities that want to create exhibits about invasive lionfish are in luck. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has a Lionfish Educational Exhibit Program that provides one-time financial assistance to help build or update a high-quality lionfish exhibit.
Since the rapid expansion of the lionfish population in 2009, the FWC has recognized this issue as a high priority and has made significant strides in educating the public about the potential negative impacts of lionfish.
Effective control of the lionfish invasion is highly dependent on cooperative efforts by government agencies, partners and stakeholders.
All participants must be facilities open to the public and committed to encouraging public awareness of coastal issues in Florida. Participants are required to apply for the program and exhibits must display FWC-approved information about lionfish and their invasion of Florida waters.
Learn more at MyFWC.com/Lionfish and apply today. Let's block ads!(Why?)

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has implanted a small tracking device in a silver carp captured on the St. Croix River Tuesday. This is the first time the DNR has tagged a silver carp, an invasive species that competes with native species for food.
The tagged silver carp will provide the DNR with valuable data on the movement and habits of this invasive species in the river system. The capture and tagging of the carp was a direct result of the DNR’s tracking of a previously tagged bighead carp.
The DNR and a contracted commercial fishing business were tracking and attempting to net the tagged bighead carp Tuesday when they captured the silver carp 2 miles south of the I-94 bridge over the St. Croix River.
“We expect this tagged silver carp to provide useful information about the species’ habits, as has been the case with the previously tagged bighead carp,” said DNR invasive fish coordinator Nick Frohnauer. “Since carp tend to congregate, we’re also hopeful that the tagged silver carp will lead us to any other individual invasive carp that may be in the area, just as the tagged bighead carp has.” The tagged bighead carp has led to four invasive carp discoveries this year and two last year.
BACKGROUND
A few more invasive carp than usual have been captured in 2019, likely because persistent high water in southern Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois created prolonged “open river” conditions in which fish could move up the Mississippi River unimpeded by the river’s locks and dams. Open river conditions can benefit native species like lake sturgeon and paddlefish, which swim hundreds of miles in search of preferable habitat. Unfortunately, these conditions also allow other, non-native species to move upriver more easily.
Frohnauer noted that, while the DNR continues to be concerned about the potential impacts of invasive carp in Minnesota waters, individual adult fish captures do not indicate reproduction or an established population of invasive carp in the Mississippi River or elsewhere in the state. Individual invasive carp have been caught as far upstream as Mississippi River Pool 2 near the Twin Cities (bighead, grass, and silver), the King Power Plant on the St. Croix River by Oak Park Heights (bighead), and just downstream of Granite Falls in the Minnesota River (bighead).
Invasive carp have been progressing upstream since escaping into the Mississippi River from southern state fish farms in the 1970s. These large, filter feeding fish compete with native species and pose a threat to rivers and lakes.
The DNR Invasive Species Program has built partnerships with state and federal agencies, conservation groups, university researchers and commercial businesses to prevent the spread of invasive carp. The 2015 closure of the Mississippi River lock at Upper St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis was a major accomplishment resulting from these efforts.
Invasive carp captures must be reported to the DNR immediately. Call 651-587-2781 or email invasivecarp.dnr@state.mn.us. Take a photo and transport the carp to the nearest DNR fisheries office or make arrangements for it to be picked up by a DNR official.Let's block ads!(Why?)

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has been awarded more than $700,000 in federal funding to study and monitor the endangered Atlantic sturgeon. The money will be used over three years to continue the department’s tagging and tracking of fall spawning Atlantic sturgeon in the Nanticoke River and Marshyhope Creek.
Until recently, Maryland’s Atlantic sturgeon population was believed to have been decimated. In 2014, biologists discovered a fall spawning adult sturgeon population in the Nanticoke River, making an appearance for the first time in 40 years.
The federal grant, provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will help assist scientists in Maryland and Delaware to capture Atlantic sturgeon, collect DNA samples, and implant acoustic transmitters to help track their staging, spawning, and migration patterns.
Later this year, Maryland and Delaware will conduct a trawl survey for juveniles to confirm successful reproduction in the Nanticoke River and Marshyhope Creek to hopefully characterize nursery habitat.
“Our continued work is essential to understand and support the continued restoration of this species in Maryland’s waters,” Anadromous Restoration Project Leader Charles “Chuck” Stence said.
Atlantic sturgeon is considered a prehistoric fish, and is currently protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.Let's block ads!(Why?)

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announce the opening or razor clam harvesting on the south coast. Recreational razor clam harvesting is now open from the Coquille River to the California border. Recent shellfish samples taken from the area indicate the marine biotoxin domoic acid has dropped below the closure limit.
In addition the ODFW annual razor clam conservation closure remains in effect until September 30th, from the Columbia River to Tillamook Head (south of Seaside). This closure is not related to marine biotoxins. The earliest these beaches could reopen is October 1st. The conservation closure does not affect razor clam populations south of Tillamook Head.
Razor clamming is closed from the south jetty of the Umpqua River (at Reedsport) to the Coquille River (at Bandon) for elevated levels of domoic acid toxin. Razor clamming is open from Tillamook Head (south of Seaside) to the north jetty of the Umpqua River (at Reedsport) and is open from the Coquille River (at Bandon) to the California border.
Recreational mussel harvesting, bay clamming and crabbing are open along the entire coast.
Coastal scallops are not affected by biotoxin closures when only the adductor muscle is eaten. The consumption of whole recreationally harvested scallops is not recommended. Crab, bay clams and oysters are not affected by this closure.
Commercial shellfish products sold in retail stores and restaurants remain safe for consumers.
Domoic acid is produced by algae and originates in the ocean. ODA will continue to test the shellfish twice per month, as tides permit. Reopening of a closed area requires two consecutive tests with results in the safe range. For information about ODFW licenses and recreational shellfishing rules contact ODFW.
For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety hotline at (800) 448-2427, the Food Safety Division at (503) 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Closures webpage. Let's block ads!(Why?)

]]>General Fishing NewsGotta Knowhttp://www.eastcoastsurfcasters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37792019 bay scallop seasons coming to an end in Septemberhttp://www.eastcoastsurfcasters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3777&goto=newpost
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Bay scallop seasons in the following regions close on:
11 – Dixie and a portion of Taylor County...From a popular news source

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Bay scallop seasons in the following regions close on:
11 – Dixie and a portion of Taylor County (includes Dekle Beach, Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee).
16 – Gulf County.
25 – Franklin through northwest Taylor County and Levy through Hernando counties (includes Carrabelle, Lanark, St. Marks, Cedar Key, Crystal River and Homosassa).
For information on bay scallop regulations, including information on future season dates, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Bay Scallops.”
Citizen Science
Done for the day? Help FWC’s scallop researchers by completing an online survey at SurveyMonkey.com/r/bayscallops. You will be asked a series of simple questions about where you harvested scallops, how many you collected and how long it took to harvest them. Participants can email BayScallops@MyFWC.com to ask questions or send additional information.
Learn more about long-term abundance trends in the open and closed scalloping areas by visiting MyFWC.com/Research and clicking on “Saltwater,” “Bay Scallops” and “Bay Scallop Season and Abundance Survey.”Let's block ads!(Why?)

]]>General Fishing NewsGotta Knowhttp://www.eastcoastsurfcasters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3777States OK two days of sturgeon fishing above Waunahttp://www.eastcoastsurfcasters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3778&goto=newpost
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CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Recreational fishermen will have two days in September to get out on the Columbia River...Quoted from a news feed

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CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Recreational fishermen will have two days in September to get out on the Columbia River to catch and retain white sturgeon under rules approved by the Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife. The two-day recreational fishery will take place on consecutive Saturdays – Sept. 21 and Sept. 28.
Recreational fishermen will head to the water this year with an overall harvest guideline of 1,230 fish for the two days. The white sturgeon fishery is guideline-driven, meaning managers may close the season early if the harvest guideline is expected to be exceeded.
The effective area is the Columbia River from the Wauna power lines, which cross the Columbia River about 40 miles from the river mouth, upstream to the fishing deadlines at Bonneville Dam. The Cowlitz River will be open for retention of white sturgeon on the same two days under rules adopted by the State of Washington. The lower Willamette River remains closed to sturgeon retention at this time.
The bag limit is one legal-sized white sturgeon per day and up to two for the year; anglers are reminded that the annual limit applies to any/all 2019 retention fisheries. A legal-sized sturgeon is defined as one measuring 44-50 inches fork length. Anglers are cautioned to pay close attention to the instructions for measuring sturgeon. Fork length is measured in a straight line from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail fin with the fish laying on its side on a flat surface and the ruler positioned flat under the fish. (See page 12 of the 2019 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations.)
For more information and regulation updates, please see ODFW’s Columbia River Zone online.Let's block ads!(Why?)

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Dry conditions in eastern Oregon and declining water levels in Thief Valley Reservoir have prompted local fish biologists to remove daily catch limits on the reservoir starting Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Thief Valley Reservoir on the Powder River is currently holding significant water, but the storage level is declining at a rate that would have it at dead storage level by late September. ODFW biologist Tim Bailey says that removing the bag limit now will give anglers a better opportunity to harvest trout that will die later when the reservoir is drained.
“When the water level reaches dead storage, large numbers of trout get trapped in isolated pools,” said Bailey. “Most fish will be stressed in the warm, turbid water and die. Conditions when the reservoir is at dead storage are not conducive to the harvesting of fish,” he added.
From Sept. 11 to Oct. 15, 2019 the daily bag and possession limits for trout are removed with no minimum size. Harvest methods may include hand, dip net or angling.Let's block ads!(Why?)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) confirms Bill Babler of Blue Eye is now the new state-record holder for brown trout after catching a monster 40-pound, 6-ounce fish at Lake Taneycomo Sept. 4 using a pole-and-line.
The previous record was set just seven months ago by Paul Crews of Neosho. Crews was also fishing at Lake Taneycomo when he reeled in a 34-pound, 10-ounce brown trout Feb. 23 using a pole-and-line.
Babler told the Springfield News-Leader he’d only been out fishing for a few minutes when he caught the fish.
“As soon as I set the hook it came to the top and I knew we had a good fish on,” Babler told the newspaper. “We positioned the boat in an unobstructed area. It was pulling drag pretty good!”
Babler attempted to keep the behemoth alive in an aerated tank, but unfortunately the trout died before it could be released.
MDC staff verified Babler’s record-breaking catch on a certified scale in Branson.
Fisheries Management Biologist Shane Bush confirmed the fish was eight or nine-years-old.
Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl.Let's block ads!(Why?)

NEWPORT, Ore. — Beginning this weekend, the Central Oregon Coast summer all-depth fishery will be open three days per week, Friday through Sunday. Previously it had only been open Friday and Saturday.
A substantial amount of the annual halibut quota remains, so fisheries managers determined that the summer all-depth halibut fishery can be open an additional day each week. “Winds, waves, and ocean temperatures have proved challenging to recreational halibut anglers this year,” said Lynn Mattes, ODFW sport halibut project leader. “Adding a day to the all-depth fishery each week will provide additional opportunities for anglers to harvest the 2019 Oregon halibut quota.”
The halibut daily bag limit for all Oregon areas south of Cape Falcon remains at 2 halibut per angler per day.
Reminder, as of Tuesday, Sept. 3, the sport bottomfish fishery is open to all depths. With bottomfish being open to all depths, anglers fishing all-depth halibut can retain both halibut and bottomfish on the same trip. Retention of bottomfish when participating in the nearshore halibut fishery remains open as well.
Anglers are reminded that all cabezon, as well as copper, quillback, and China rockfish, must be released immediately if caught while fishing from a boat.
There is no change to the offshore longleader fishery. Anglers must fish seaward of the 40-fathom regulatory line and use longleader gear for the 10-fish longleader bag limit of select midwater rockfish species to apply, and no lingcod, halibut, or other groundfish may be retained.
More information about Marine Zone fishing regulations and opportunities is available at Fishing Report - Marine Zone | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.Let's block ads!(Why?)

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Fisheries managers from Oregon and Washington today announced that recreational Chinook salmon retention in the Columbia River between Warrior Rock and Bonneville Dam will close effective Friday, Sept. 6 at 12:01 a.m., three days earlier than originally scheduled.
The states decided to close the fishery early after reviewing harvest data that indicated recreational fishermen in this river section have already surpassed their preseason Chinook salmon harvest guideline by approximately 40 percent. Other sections of the lower Columbia River closed to Chinook retention in August to help prevent recreational fisheries from exceeding their allocation of upriver bright fall Chinook.
Columbia River salmon harvests are subject to treaties and federal conservation mandates such as the Endangered Species Act that place limits on the number of fish that can be harvested.
For 2019, upriver bright fall Chinook, which include ESA-listed Snake River fish, are the most constraining Chinook stock, The states took a precautionary approach to planning 2019 fisheries as a result of exceeding take limits in recent years.
“Clearly, we need to close the season as soon as possible,” said Tucker Jones, ODFW’s manager of ocean salmon and Columbia River fisheries.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and if there is any indication that we have room to catch more fish, we’ll take action,” he added, referring to ongoing monitoring of the upriver bright run size that can affect harvest guidelines.
In the meantime, coho salmon returns appear to be strong and offer potential for additional recreational fishing opportunity, especially at Buoy 10, according to Jones.
Retention of adult hatchery coho is currently open from Buoy 10 to McNary Dam, with a bag limit of two fish per day. The recreational coho season is scheduled to continue through the end of the year.
In addition, Chinook retention remains open between Bonneville and McNary dams. The fishery will be managed based on actual catches and upriver bright run size.
Steelhead retention is currently closed through September in the Columbia from the mouth of the river at Buoy 10 upstream to McNary Dam, a measure the states adopted and subsequently expanded earlier this year to help reduce impacts to upriver steelhead, which are returning to the river in smaller numbers than expected.
For more information, visit ODFW on line at Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.Let's block ads!(Why?)

HERE is the CCA Guide to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI, which contains previous CCA positions, background on the current challenges, talking points and a schedule of upcoming hearings in the states. We encourage you to share it with your fellow CCA members.Let's block ads!(Why?)

Enterprise, Ore. – Steelhead season opened in northeast Oregon on Sunday, Sept. 1. Bag limits will be reduced to one (1) hatchery steelhead per day in Oregon waters.
Effective Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2019; the daily bag limit is one hatchery steelhead in the following areas:
The Grande Ronde River upstream to Meadow Creek
The Imnaha River downstream of Big Sheep Creek
The Wallowa River from the mouth upstream to Trout Creek;
Big Sheep Creek downstream of Little Sheep Creek
The Wenaha River downstream of Crooked Creek;
The Snake River from the state line to Hells Canyon Dam;
Catherine Creek upstream to Hwy 203 bridge above Catherine Cr. State Park
While the steelhead opener is highly anticipated by anglers, there will be a reduced bag limit this year. “Unfortunately, the returning numbers are similar to those last year, “said Winston Morton, Acting Assistant District Fish Biologist in Enterprise. “As with last year, we have decided to limit the daily catch to one hatchery fish per day in order to protect the returning wild steelhead as well as to insure the hatchery has enough returning fish for broodstock.” The season will run through Dec. 31.
Steelhead are currently making their way up the Columbia and Snake Rivers and biologist are monitoring the run numbers. To date there are 7,340 steelhead over Lower Granite Dam of which 4,827 of those are hatchery fish. The total is only 30 percent of the 10-year average. “We will reevaluate the daily bag limit if returns increase,” added Morton.
ODFW would also to like Oregon anglers to be aware of a steelhead tag reward study being conducted by Idaho Fish and Game. “IDFG has tagged fish some fish and while most will return to their natal streams in Idaho, there is a chance Oregon anglers could catch some of these fish and we would encourage them to report the catch,” said Morton. The tags will be located just below the dorsal fin of the fish.
Anglers can report online at tag.idaho.gov or by phone 1-866-258-0358. Reward tags should be mailed to: Fish Tag Returns, 1414 East Locust Lane, Nampa, ID 83686.Let's block ads!(Why?)